Recreation area



April 7, 1970 R. M. JENNEY 3,504,912

RECREATION AREA Filed May 16. 1967 r Y s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I April 7, 1970. v .YR.M.QJENNEY v 3,504,912

} v RECREATION AREA Filed May 116. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet z 1 I5 6 3 -0 EM; (r E FIG 5 April 7, 1970 R. M.YJENNEY RECREATION AREA 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 16, 1967 United States Patent 3,504,912 RECREATIONAREA Robert M. Jenney, Brookline, Mass., assignor to Jenney Manufacturing Company, Newton, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 16, 1967, Ser. No. 638,956 Int. Cl. A63b 69/36, 63/02 US. Cl. 273-35 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a recreation area which provides, at least in part, a sports range employing a wire or fabric web elevated above the ground which serves as both a landing surface to collect balls and other objects propelled thereon and to protect facilities and people located thereunder. More particularly, the invention pertains to a sports practice or target range in which elevated targets are supported on or above the web, thus facilitating the measurement of performance and the introduction of competitive play through scoring games that are made possible by the arrangement of the targets.

Sports practice ranges have long been used in such sports as golf and baseball, the usual practice range consisting of a large area of open land in front of the tee, batter, or player positions. The players, using equipment pertinent to the sport, hit, throw, kick, or otherwise propel balls or other sports objects or projectiles from the playing position into the open area where they accumulate on the ground. This area is a no mans land for it is dangerous to life and limb to be physically exposed in this hitting zone area. A relatively large land area is required for a range of this type which, in the face of increasing population pressure on land and the rising values of land, makes the single special purpose use of a large land area as a receiving area for sports objects increasingly uneconomic.

The present invention substantially improves the economic picture by making a multiple use of the land area possible. The elevated web of this invention enables the land underneath the web to be used for other useful and revenue-producing activities such as miniature golf, swimming pools, paddle tennis, volleyball, picnic grounds, air buildings, and the like or for other purposes such as car parking, shopping areas, crop growing, etc. Furthermore, the elevated web of this invention can be installed over marginal land, all or in part, such as quarries, marshland, water bodies and other forms of terrain which would not otherwise be economically useful, at least for the recreational purpose provided by the range.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a recreation area having a sports practice range wherein the economics of the usage of large land areas for the receiving of sports objects are materially improved through multi-purpose use and new locational possibilities for sports practice ranges are made possible.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means for the immediate removal and collection of balls from the landing surface in a manner which significantly reduces collection costs. For example, in the case of golf driving ranges, the golf balls which are hit onto the play ing field must be collected several times a day. The collection cost is a significant portion of the typical ranges operating expense. The slope of the elevated web of the present invention allows the balls to be recovered immediately and automatically from the landing surface in a manner which entails a much lower operating expense to the range operator. Furthermore, the landing surface presents an uncluttered appearance at all times.

Another object of this invention is to further reduce the operating expense of the sports practice range by eliminating the need for continual cleaning of the balls and by preventing damage to the balls that is caused by the impact of landing. For example, golf driving ranges find it necessary to wash and dry the golf balls that are col lected from the ground, and the constant abrasion of the washing process reduces the life and quality of the balls. The impact of golf balls landing on the ground, on rocks or coral, dependent upon the regional characteristics of the ground, bruises and cuts the golf balls, impairing their quality and requiring more frequent replacement. The elevated web of the present invention protects the balls from impact damages and substantially reduces the need for cleaning the balls.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved sports practice range wherein elevated targets are used in a unique fashion to allow competitive scoring games to be played. In the present invention, the combined use of elevated targets and web introduces a new and exciting third dimension to the sports practice range. Aiming at targets arranged at either increasing or decreasing heights and at varying distances from the player positions, the sports participant experiences a much improved dimensional sense of the trajectory of the flight of the ball as it moves across the background of colored web and targets. The rating of his performance is facilitated, as the direct-hit or near-miss, due to the rebound characteristics and the elevated nature of one embodiment of the targets and landing area, is readily observed giving the player an accurate feedback of each result. The ability to measure ones own relative performance or ones performance in competition with competitors provides a source of stimulation to players that increases their satisfaction and enjoyment.

The golf range, for example, can deploy the targets at distances which enable the golfer to play or practice a wide variety of shots while standing in one location. By numbering or otherwise identifying the targets, numerous scoring and game possibilities can be incorporated, thus establishing the advantages of practice in game form. Two or more golfers can then be assigned to one tee position to take turns alternately in the same way that players take turns in hitting their shots on the golf course. This allows the accommodation of up to four times as many players on the tee line.

In one embodiment of the invention the range is of such size as to accommodate all or most golf tee or fairway shots and the elevated web is formed in substantial part of netting which is flexible, and strong enough and of sufiiciently small mesh to retain golf balls hit into it, and which is so sloped that the balls roll by gravity to one or more retrieval areas or stations. Preferably, the range is provided with targets, which may be on the netting itself but more desirably are mounted or suspended on supports above the netting and at such heights as to be clearly visible from the playing position or tee. Nylon or wire netting of one inch mesh or less has been found suitable. Netting is preferable to other materials that may be used for the web such as lightweight plastic or fabric sheeting because of perviousness to rain and snow, lower wind resistance, high transparency, flexibility and light weight;

however, all or part of the web may be formed of solid plastic or fabric sheeting.

The suspended web of the range is large, normally at least 200 feet in length longitudinally of the driving stations and 150 to 200 feet in width laterally of the driving stations. The areas of the smaller width may require vertical shielding such as netting at the sides of the range to catch wild shots and those of the shorter length may need such shielding at the end to stop long shots, it being desirable to avoid such shielding Where space permits.

Preferably, the web is provided in separate sections which may be readily erected in or removed from their respective positions in the range, such removal being important to safeguard the web from damage under very high winds, icing or heavy snow conditions. To this end, support cables may be provided to which the sides of each section are attached. The web may be sectionalized both laterally and longitudinally of the range or only in one direction, depending on the bulk of web that can be feasibly handled by the erecting-removing equipment. Means may also be provided along the contiguous edges of adjacent sections to prevent the escape of balls between them, although normally the edges may readily be fastened to each other or to the supporting cable sufficiently closely as to obviate loss of balls between the edges.

The floor web may slope in one direction only, or different areas may slope in different directions. A preferred embodiment provides a long upward slope extending outward from near the playing positions for a distance of about 165 feet to a height of about 30-40 feet, followed by a second long slope extending further outwardly for approximately an equal distance and downwardly to about two thirds of the maximum height. In general, where the range is longer than about 200 feet, an opposite slope may be desirable for some or all of the additional length to limit the required height of supporting structure. Such an arrangement provides a large amount of useful space under the web and requires ball collection facilities, such as inclined troughs, at the foot of only one or two slopes. However, various other arrangements may be employed and may be dictated by the topography of the underlying property. For example, if the Web is erected over a quarry it may be concave. Again, the web may have peaks to accommodate high objects such as trees. Wherever a sloped portion terminates in an area not sufficiently sloped for continued rolling of the balls, collection facilities such as spouts or inclined troughs are normally provided, which may feed to several collection stations or be connected to a system returning to a single station. In some cases the ground itself may serve as a collection station. The web sections may be either taut or slack, and the margins of adjacent sections may overlap.

Preferably, targets are provided in the range at different locations outwardly from the playing stations. While distinctively colored portions of the Web may be used for this purpose it is much preferred to provide distinct targets with a face having high resilience located above the web exposed to the playing stations so that balls striking a target have a large rebound which facilitates detection of hits. The targets may be suspended by cables above the web with their rebound faces directed toward the playing stations, normally at an angle to the horizontal. If desired, the targets may carry lights, particularly for use at night, the face of each target may be connected to an audio or visual signal so that the signal is actuated when a ball strikes the target. The targets may be assigned different values according to distance from playing position. size, etc., to provide various golf games while testing the accuracy of golf shots. A desirable arrangement provides targets at different distances from the tee and of progressively increasing size and height as the distance increases, each target being substituted for a golf course hole. With this arrangement, competition in match 4 or medal play is possible in which two or more teams may alternate a given number of shots per player, such as three, progressively at the targets, the player or team Scoring the most hits on a given target winning the hole in match play or winning a stroke differential advantage in medal play. In the alternative, players who are alone may engage in more intelligent and efficient practice by being able to score their own results and keep a performance record.

The invention contemplates the provision of single story or multiple story playing or tee positions, and these positions as well as the entire Web may be substantially elevated above ground level to provide full utility of the space thereunder. In other instances, the web may adjoin a building wherein the player or tee positions are located on the roof of the building.

The embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings are intended as an illustration of the invention and not as a limitation upon its scope.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a general plan view of one embodiment of the invention, partly broken away, having an array of targets centrally located adjacent a row of playing stations;

FIG. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale, partly broken away and in section, showing another embodiment of the invention of more limited area than that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view on an enlarged scale showing a portion of the target array;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view on a greatly enlarged scale partly broken away showing the manner of mounting the targets; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view partly broken away showing the arrangement of cables and supports.

As shown in FIG. 1 the recreation area may include such features of terrain as a body of water 10 and trees or other vegetation 14 and there may be included such recreational facilities as tennis courts 16, a parking area 20, shuffleboard courts 22, picnic area 24, football goal posts 25, and a building 26 for housing stores, bowling alleys or other recreational facilities, etc. Extending along one margin of the recreation area in a row of poles or posts 30 approximately 20 to 30 feet high and approximately 60 feet apart. Along the central portion of the opposing margin of the area extends a structure containing a plurality of playing positions 40, While extending laterally on each side of structure 40 is a row of poles 32. An intermediate row of poles 34 each approximately 75 feet high extends across the recreation area. The total size of the recreation area between the rows of posts 30 and 32 in this embodiment is a square approximately 600 feet on a side. Parallel supporting cables 36 extend across the tops of the respective poles, those cables lying between the ends of structure 40 being secured to the structure or to its foundation beneath the level of the individual playing positions. A plurality of flexible net sections 38, 38 are stretched between adjacent cables with their margins sccured to the cables. These net sections cover substantially the entire recreation area and are preferably made of cord or wire, the interstices being sufficiently small to prevent the passage of a golf ball. The margins of the nets may be secured to the cables by any conventional means as by lashing, metal clamps, etc. to form a flexible web suspended from the supporting cables and poles in spaced relation above the terrain beneath.

Extending upwardly through net sections 38 to a level approximately 5 feet above the adjacent supporting cables are two pairs 42, 44 of target cable supporting posts. A second set of target cable supporting posts 46, 48 arranged farther away from the playing positions extend upwardly through the net sections 38 to a level approximately 20 feet above adjacent cables 36. Stretched over the tops of posts 42, 44, 46, 48 are two pairs of generally parallel target support cables 50, 52, these cables terminating at and being anchored to the structure 40 or its foundation at one end and to suitable anchors 55, which may be buried in the earth, at the other end. A plurality of targets 54, 54 are mounted between and supported by the pairs of cables 50, 52 in position to be visible from playing positions of structure 40. The spacing between cables 50 may decrease somewhat as they approach the proximity of the playing positions, the targets in this zone becoming progressively smaller as they approach the playing positions, and the same is true of cables 52. An additional target 57 is supported upon an individual post extending upwardly through a net section. Baseball pitching machines 59, 59 may also be mounted on individual posts extending upwardly through net sections and arranged to deliver balls to batters standing in a few of the playing positions of structure 40. The portions of any such posts and other structure protruding above the net sections are preferably padded to minimize rebound and richochet of balls hitting them as well as to reduce noise.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 the arrangement is generally similar. A plurality of generally parallel support cables 80 have their opposite ends secured to anchors 82, 83 embedded in the earth, the midportions being suspended in an elevated position above the terrain by means of rows of supporting posts 84, 86. Disposed adjacent the anchors 82 is a tee structure providing a plurality of playing positions on two levels 88, 90, access to the upper level being provided by a stairway 91, The reach of cables 80 extending from anchors 82 to posts 84 slopes gradually upwardly as shown in FIG. 3, while the reach extending from posts 84 to posts 86 slopes gradually downwardly, the total distance from anchors 82 to posts 86 being approximately 360 feet. Net sections 92, like those described in the embodiment of FIG. 1, extend between adjacent cables in the entire area between the rows of posts 84 and 86. In addition, net sections 92 extend along the sloping reach of cables 80 downwardly from the row of posts 84 toward playing stations 88, 90, their lower margins terminating adjacent the playing stations, the total width of the area covered by the net sections being approximately 200 feet. In this embodiment the range, being of relatively small size, may form a part of a larger recreational area, a portion only of which extends across the terrain beneath the net sections 92. The slope of cables 80 in the area over which the net sections 92 extend is suflicient to cause any ball landing on them to roll downwardly along the net section. A ball-collecting trough 96 (FIG. 5) may be mounted beneath the lower margin of net sections 92 on posts 86 in position to receive any balls rolling off the edge of the net sections. Trough 96 itself may slope from one end to the other and terminate in a generally vertical pipe or conduit 98 leading the balls to a collection station 100. At lower margins 94 of the net sections adjacent the playing stations, the balls may be allowed to roll out into trough 94.

As best appears in FIG. 8 cables 80 need not be continuous from one end to the other but may be in sections terminating at and secured to suitable ears or fittings 104, 106 mounted on posts 84 and 86 respectively.

In order to reinforce and provide lateral stability to the embodiment of FIGS. '25, transverse reinforcing cables 108, 110 may be provided extending along and between the rows of posts 84, 86 at the same level as cables 80 and terminating at each end in anchors 112, 114 embedded in the earth. These cables also may be in sections extending between and connected to adjacent posts in the same manner as cables 80.

Two pairs of spaced target supporting cables 120, 122 extend transversely above the net sections 92, being secured at one end to anchors 124, 126 embedded in the earth adjacent the playing positions and to anchors 128, 130 at the far end of the range. Both of cables 120, 120 are generally parallel to each other throughout most of their extent, converging slightly as they approach anchor 124, and cables 122, 122 are similiarly arranged. In order to support these cables in their position elevated above the net sections, extensions 132 are provided extending upwardly from the top of posts 84; they are provided with clamps 134 at their upper ends for clamping the cables 120 or 122 as the case may be. In this embodiment, where posts 84 are approximately 35 feet high, extensions 132 may be approximately 5 feet in length. Similarly posts 86 (except for the end posts in the row as seen in FIG. 5) extend upwardly beyond the level at which cables are attached, which in this embodiment may be about 25 feet above the ground, to a total height of approximately 75 feet. Clamp fittings 137 may be secured to the top of posts 86 to clamp cables 120 or 122 as the case may be. Transverse reinforcing cables 136, 138 may be secured between the tops of extensions 132 and posts 86 in a fashion similar to reinforcing cables 108 and at the lower level.

Secured between each pair of cables 120, and 122, 122 is a plurality of targets 140, 140, each successive target in the progression away from the playing stations being tilted more steeply than the preceding one, say from about 10 to about 35 with respect to the horizontal, as best appears in FIG. 3, and all of them being visible from the playing stations. Each target as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 comprises a rigid outer ring or rim 142 of metal piping or the like of suitable diameter to fit between adjacent cables 120, 120 and clamped thereto by suitable clamps and struts 144, 146 in the desired angular position. The targets may be graduated in size, the larger ones having a diameter of about 20 to 30 feet and being located farther away from the playing positions. A web 148 of flexible material is stretched across rim 142, the web 148 preferably being of a color and/or texture contrasting in appearance with net sections 92 so as to provide a readily visible target. While web 148 may be an open weave or net material it preferably is relatively closely woven and is stretched as tautly as possible to provide a face of high resilience which will impart rebound to balls striking it so as to distinguish readily from balls which strike against the relatively slack net sections 92 and which bounce much less. A suitable design or an identifying symbol or numeral is provided for one or more targets by securing to the face of web 148 strips of fabric contrasting in color or appearance to the supporting web 148, as shown in FIG. 6. If desired, targets may be provided with a small central zone defined by a second rigid annular rim 150. The central zone may be left empty or it may be provided with a covering contrasting in color and appearance with the remainder of the target face. In order to provide a greater number of targets in the array, additional targets 151, 152 may be mounted between the central pair of posts 84, 86 as shown in FIGS. 2-5. In addition, supplemental targets 156 of appropriate sizes may be mounted approximately at the level of net sections 92 by securing them between pairs of transverse cables 158 extending between and secured to adjacent pairs of cables 80.

In use of the recreation area and particularly the range portion thereof, players stand at the playing positions, and using for example conventional golf balls and golf clubs propel the balls toward selected targets above the net sections of the flexible web. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 any balls landing on the flexible web in advance of the row of posts 34, 34 roll downwardly toward the playing positions, while any balls landing on the web beyond the row of posts 34, 34 roll downwardly along the web to the far edge where they may be retrieved. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 5 balls landing in advance 7 of the row of posts 84, 84 roll downwardly toward the playing positions and accumulate at the ground collection station where they may be retrieved. Balls landing beyond the row of posts 84, 84 roll downwardly along the web toward the far end whence they drop into collection trough 96 and accumulate at collection station 100.

The net sections 38 and 92 are of such size and are secured to the supporting cables in such a way, as by clamps, etc., that they may readily be removed and replaced in case of need. Targets 140 are also preferably mounted so that they may readily be removed and replaced.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention solely thereto but to include all of the variations and modifications which suggest themselves to one skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A recreation area having a range comprising a web impervious to balls propelled thereon at least a portion of the web being sufiiciently sloped to cause balls landing thereon to roll thereacross to at least one ball collecting station, a plurality of playing positions disposed at multiple levels adjacent a margin of said range in positiOn to permit a player at each of said playing positions to propel a ball onto the surface of said web, and an array of targets mounted in spaced relation above said web and visible from said playing positions to serve as aiming points for said balls, each target having a face of higher resiliency than the adjacent web to impart greater rebound to balls striking it.

2. A recreation area having a range comprising a plurality of spaced generally parallel cables, means for suspending said cables, a plurality of nets each extending between and having two opposing margins secured to and supported by a pair of said cables, at least a portion of the nets being sufiiciently sloped to cause balls landing thereon to roll thereacross to at least one ball-collecting station, a plurality of playing positions located adjacent a margin of said range in position to permit a player at each of said playing positions to propel a ball onto the surface of said nets, at least one pair of generally parallel cables extending across at least some of the nets and spaced thereabove and extending upwardly from adjacent said playing positions, and an array of targets mounted on the last said pair of cables visible from said playing positions to serve as aiming points for said balls.

3'. A recreation area as claimed in claim 2 in which each target has a face of high resilience to impart rebound to balls striking it.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,204,645 11/1916 Boardrnan. 1,543,401 6/1925 Steinmetz 273-103 X 1,612,920 1/1927 Hillstrom. 1,907,412 5/1933 Zimmer 273-182 X 2,195,634 4/1940 Shelley. 2,315,257 3/1943 Harlow 273-26 X 2,743,929 1/1956 Smith 273-181 3,129,943 4/1964 McKee. 3,310,310 3/1967 McKee 273-181 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

